Four Tips About Hearing Aid Fittings

If you’ve never worn hearing aids, going through the process to get to the end result may seem intimidating. But rest assured your hearing and your life will improve! After your hearing care professional determined that hearing aids are necessary, you discussed the styles available that fit your budget. Now it’s time for a hearing aid fitting. Here are some tips to help with that visit.

Expect more tests

In order for your hearing aids to serve you best, a few more sound tests are necessary. These measure your eardrum’s reaction to sound volume. During this painless test, a thin tube is inserted into your ear canal near your eardrum. The test is performed before your hearing aids are inserted and again after. The results are used to calibrate the best amplification levels for you.

Prepare for hands-on training

After your hearing aids are calibrated, your hearing specialist will demonstrate how to insert and remove your units and show you how they operate. You’ll learn about changing settings, inserting and removing batteries and cleaning and caring for your hearing aids. Many people like to have a friend or family member there for support. Your hearing healthcare provider will provide information for reference and review and you can take notes too. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Anticipate a small learning curve

Just as it takes time to get used to wearing new glasses, you should expect it to take a few days for your brain to process the new sounds you hear. You start by wearing your hearing aids just a few hours the first day. As time progresses you build up to wearing them all day.

Because you will hear sounds you haven’t heard in quite a while, it’s best to begin by wearing your units in quiet surroundings at home. Have some conversations with friends, listen to the radio and watch TV. As you become accustomed to your hearing aids, you can progress to noisier places such as restaurants, parties and events. Background noise can be a distraction, so working in quieter surroundings first allows your brain to acclimate.

Be ready for your follow-up

In about a week, you likely will have a follow-up appointment with your hearing care specialist to discuss any modifications that need to be made, including fit or volume adjustments. It’s also a good time to discuss any additional questions you have regarding your hearing aids.

Your hearing healthcare provider will suggest annual or semi-annual hearing test visits. Also, you will want your units professionally cleaned several times a year. Depending on the style of your hearing aids, you may also make regular trips to the office for new batteries.

These four tips about hearing aid fittings should help with any concerns you may have about the process. Once you start wearing your hearing aids on a regular basis, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without them.